Program Overview

The Foundation Year at Manchester Fashion Institute is designed to prepare you for your chosen degree, ensuring that you start Year 1 of your linked Bachelor's degree with the confidence, academic knowledge and study skills you will need to be successful.

You will be introduced to the fashion industry through a variety of exciting topics and you will have the opportunity to participate in a number of events and projects. Previous students have attended Vogue’s Big Night Out, Graduate Fashion Week and number of student conferences.

If you choose the Foundation Year route, you will undertake a total of four years of study. You will also have the opportunity to spend a year on placement and/or studying abroad, in which case you will complete a total of five years.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will automatically progress onto Year 1 of your chosen degree.

Fashion Buying and Merchandising
The roles of buyers and merchandisers are key to the success of any fashion business. They are responsible for generating revenue through trading the product by assessing sales, customer demand, market trends, selecting, sourcing and managing products to maximize sales. The performance of these two roles is crucial to the success of the business.

The BSc (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising course provide students with a thorough understanding of all aspects of the management of the product from concept to consumer, including the strategies needed to start a new business and improve business performance, helping students to succeed in a truly exciting field of work.

The breadth of knowledge gained from this course also includes product innovation, market analysis and business analytics with the essential skills needed to not only to secure graduate employment or start a new business, but for career progression to more senior functions through the focus on business strategy, supply chain and the management of people.

Specialist knowledge in finance, sourcing, logistics and business strategy equips students with the necessary skills to understand the business of fashion, from operational understanding in the first year through to the strategic perspective of senior management in the final year. The final year facilitates students’ exploration of the potential future industry, changes and business strategies employed to maximise profit and to realise this through enterprise and/or research. Supported by a team that includes ex-industry professionals, the Fashion Buying and Merchandise course continues to develop successful professionals in a truly exciting field of work.